The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; ²⁴though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. —Psalm 37:23-24
Psalm 37 explains life in this world. The righteous—those who have the law of God in their heart and take refuge in Him—will inherit the whole earth (Psalm 37:31, 40; cf. Psalm 1–2), though it doesn’t look that way right now.
Right now evil runs rampant. Evil gnashes its teeth against God’s own. Evil seems to be winning the day. But it’s only for a little while longer. Soon the wicked will be no more (Psalm 37:10). The end-time judgment of God against all who oppose Him is coming. Jesus, the Lord’s King, our Savior and hope, will return to judge the living and the dead. He will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel, and He will be marveled at by those who believe (2 Thessalonians 1:7–10).
Psalm 37 tells us how to live until that day, and in particular, encourages godly ambition until that day (vv. 23–24). Put simply, you and I should dream big for the glory of God. I’ll try to explain in three simplified points. The syllogism goes like this:
If you are in Christ you are called to God’s purpose and God’s purpose will not fail; therefore all our dreams toward that purpose will not ultimately fail.
If you are in Christ you are called to God’s purpose
When we are saved from our sins and given a new identity “in Christ” we are welcomed into fellowship with God. We are brought to His person, and into His purpose. He calls us into this and orders our steps. In fact, we don’t even live anymore, Christ lives in us (Galatians 2:20). Our entire universe is wrapped up in Him. Our dreams are surrendered to the goal of His glory covering the earth as the waters cover the seas (Habakkuk 2:14).
God’s purpose will not fail
His purpose, by the way, will succeed. The earth will indeed be covered with His glory as the waters cover the seas. The gospel of Jesus will advance to every tribe and tongue and people and nation (Revelation 5:9–10). All of God’s elect will believe and then the end will come. It’s been this way since the beginning. God’s purposes are not hindered. He does what He pleases, in heaven and on earth and in the seas and all deeps (Psalm 135:6). He is that kind of sovereign. And He is that kind of righteous. He fulfills what He promises because He has put His name to it. And it is only right that God has an “unswerving commitment to uphold the glory of his name.”
All our dreams toward that purpose will not ultimately fail
If we are in Christ, called to God’s purpose, and God’s purpose will not fail, then our efforts in His purpose will not ultimately fail. This doesn’t mean our every effort will automatically turn to gold. We can still make mistakes and inevitability we will. We will stumble and fall (Psalm 37:24a). But if our efforts are aimed at His purpose, if they are aimed at His glory advancing to all the earth, it is certain to succeed. We will not be cast headlong. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1) and there is no ultimate failure for the work of his people (Matthew 16:18). For the Lord upholds our hand.
So should be our lives in this world unto that day.
For Reflection
What are you dreaming for the glory of God?
Ask Him to increase your faith that He will accomplish all His purposes.